Fraulini Loretta Custom Model 12 String Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2013), made in Madison, Wisconsin, serial # L-124, natural varnish finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This instrument is a lovely Fraulini guitars "Loretta" custom small-body 12 string that evokes the spirit of 1920's New York made flat tops without being an exact re-creation of a specific instrument. Fraulini Guitars are handmade in Madison, Wisconsin by Todd Cambio, specializing in unique and superbly built guitars inspired by instruments made in the Oscar Schmidt factory, the New York Italian-American guitar makers of the 1910's and '20's and others of the period. They are made individually in a number of variations on a selection of sizes and styles. The "Loretta" model is one of the smaller instruments offered and is usually built with 6 strings; this is a practically unique custom-ordered extra fancy 12 string version built to the one-off order of a customer
This custom Loretta 12-string was made in 2013, superbly built throughout using the highest quality materials and traditional techniques including a dovetail neck joint; hot, fresh hide glue; handmade wood purflings and a thin varnish finish. The back and sides are beautifully figured mahogany, single bound with a thin colored wood backstrip. The top is lovely even-grained spruce, bound in ivoroid with extra fancy colored wood marquetry and chain-pattern trim. An inlaid pickguard with a pearl floral design graces the top; this is derived from a Ciani shop design from the 1920s. The top is ladder braced with a wide thin bridgeplate in the authentic 1900's pattern; like many 1920s 12-strings the bridge uses only 6 pins for the 12 strings.
The neck is mahogany with a hint of a "V" profile but not as sharp as many 1920s guitars. There is an adjustable truss rod accessed through the soundhole. The bound ebony fingerboard has elaborate shaped pearl inlay complete with a mirrored floral design on either side of the bone nut. The slotted headstock is in a Galiano/Ciani pattern used on the single fanciest 12-string that shop ever built, which is currently a museum piece; it is bound with a pearl inlay up the center.
Like all Fraulinis this one-of-a-kind guitar has been crafted in exacting detail; it is hand dated and signed by Todd under the top to March 2013. It has some light play wear but is still in perfect playing condition. The sound is full and rich for a small-body 12-string guitar; it has a delicate feel but can still 'kick" when pushed. This is a very nicely mellowed-in instrument from by far the finest line its type ever built.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 in. (610 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This lovely Loretta is in original unaltered condition; it has been played over the past 13 years but not heavily. There is an area of pick marks to the top off the front edge of the pickguard and just some small finish disturbances over the instrument. The bridgeplate had more-than-average wear from the archaic double-string-end-in-one hole layout; this has been cleaned up and patched, and the bridge reglued as well. With these repairs structurally the guitar remains in perfect playing condition, with very little fret wear. We think this is a wonderful instrument and it's great to see Todd's creations out in the real world; we expect this unique and especially lovely guitar will continue to mature and sound great for many years to come. Overall Excellent - Condition.
